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Five Fun Things To Do In New Jersey and New York

I was tempted to title this blog post, “The Top Five Things To Do in New Jersey and New York,” because I thought it would be a little catchier, but it’s a pretty big claim to say that something is one of the top things to do. So, I settled for a little less flashy, but more truthful title.

Last week we had spring break (a little early to quite deserve the title “spring,” in my opinion). My parents came to visit for the break to take a little vacation to the East Coast and to see where I live. Here are five of the things we did while they were here:

Walk along the Jersey Shore

It’s definitely the off-season at the shore, but that worked out really well for us because we had almost the whole beach to ourselves. It wasn’t warm enough to sit on the beach or swim in the ocean, but we had a good time walking along the beach, picking up shells and enjoying the sunny day. It was quiet and peaceful in a place where it is normally busy, noisy, and expensive. We ate dinner at a little seafood market and restaurant that I would highly recommend: Shore Fresh Seafood. It’s a tiny little place that is mainly a fish market (we got to watch them filleting salmon and putting out scallops while we wait), so the seafood was so fresh and delicious!

And a bonus: you don’t have to pay for a beach pass in February!

See a Broadway Play

We saw the play “American in Paris” and I would highly recommend seeing it (or another Broadway show) if you visit New York City. There are really no words that can do justice to a theatrical performance, so I’m just going to post the video trailer so you can get a little glimpse. All I can say is that it was true work of art that included amazing dancing, innovative projected scenery, incredible music, and a charming story. And if you can’t get to New York City anytime soon, check out the movie that the play is based on. I haven’t seen it, but if it’s anything like the play, it’s definitely worth watching.

Hike at the Delaware Water Gap

This was my favorite part of our trip last week. I have been hearing about the Delaware Water Gap since I first moved to New Jersey and have wanted to go hiking there for a long time. It was really nice to get outside and be away from the city for a day. It was a challenging hike with a great view at the top. Pictures say more than words, though, so here are a few:

Ride a Ferry to Ellis Island and the Statue of Liberty

I wend to Ellis Island and the Statue of Liberty when I came to the East Coast for a school trip in High School. It’s something that I would highly recommend, though, especially if you have family that immigrated to the United States through Ellis Island. There are a lot good exhibits about immigration before, during, and after the time of Ellis Island. It was amazing to see how people traveled here with very little to create a new life for themselves. It made me a lot more grateful for the family members who made the sacrifice to leave their homes and come to this country.

Visit Thomas Edison’s Laboratories

On the last day of my parents’ visit, we went to the little-known gem of West Orange, NJ. Thomas Edison had a laboratory in West Orange where he developed and manufactured many inventions that led to many things that we know today. One of his biggest inventions was the phonograph, which was the first device to record sound and play it back. It sounds simple, but think about how much of our world today is based on the ability to record sound. In his laboratories you can see the library, storeroom, machine shops, recording studio, moving picture film studio, photography studio, and many other rooms and building that made his inventions and the manufacturing of those inventions possible. If you’re in the area, I definitely suggest checking the museum out!

Welcome!

Hi! My name is Teresa. I am a photographer, writer, teacher, reader, tea drinker, and campus missionary from Minnesota. I'm currently living in Texas where I'm adjusting to the warm weather and fast driving. I love farmers markets, fresh flowers, art supplies, libraries, thrift stores, museums, and bike rides. I am excited to share my journey with you, so grab a cup of tea and take a look around.

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